The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has noted its support for resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, warning that the ongoing industrial dispute could escalate into an indefinite strike if the Oyo State government fails to address the doctors’ outstanding welfare and remuneration concerns.
In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, the association expressed “profound concern” over the worsening labour dispute, urging the state government to intervene immediately to prevent a complete breakdown of healthcare services at the tertiary hospital.
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The association said it had reviewed the communiqué issued after an emergency general meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, held on 25 June, and noted that while the hospital’s board and management had made efforts to address some of the issues raised, those measures fell “significantly short” of resolving the substantive concerns that triggered the industrial action.
Consequently, it said, the resident doctors resolved to continue their ongoing two-week warning strike and further declared that if their demands remain unresolved at the end of the warning strike, the action would automatically escalate into an indefinite strike.
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Concerns
Describing the situation as “deeply unfortunate and entirely avoidable,” NARD said the unresolved issues centre on doctors’ welfare, remuneration, residency training and working conditions, all of which directly affect healthcare delivery in Oyo State.
It said the doctors’ demands include the immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and the passage of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) into law.
Other demands are the implementation of the new professional allowance for eligible doctors, payment of the outstanding 2025 accoutrement allowance, settlement of minimum wage arrears and upgrade arrears, recruitment of additional resident doctors and medical officers through a national advertisement, and the urgent rehabilitation of doctors’ call rooms.
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According to the association, these are fundamental issues affecting staff welfare, workforce retention, residency training and patient care, and should be addressed without further delays.
“NARD is particularly concerned that doctors in the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital continue to render essential services under severe manpower shortages, increasing workload and difficult working conditions, while many of their legitimate entitlements remain outstanding.
“Such a situation is unsustainable and undermines the collective efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in Oyo State,” the association said.
Released abductees
Despite the industrial action, NARD commended the resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital for temporarily suspending the strike for two days to provide medical care to abducted schoolchildren and their teachers after their release.
The association described the decision as an exceptional demonstration of patriotism, humanity and professional responsibility.
It said the action reflected the commitment of resident doctors to preserving lives even while grappling with unresolved welfare challenges.
Demands
NARD called on the Oyo State government to immediately facilitate a comprehensive resolution of all outstanding issues raised by the resident doctors.
It also urged the Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to intensify good-faith engagement with the association and ensure the implementation of agreements and obligations within the powers of the hospital management.
The association further demanded the immediate payment of all outstanding entitlements, including the Medical Residency Training Fund, professional allowance, accoutrement allowance arrears, minimum wage arrears and upgrade arrears.
It also called for the immediate recruitment of additional resident doctors and medical officers through a transparent national recruitment process to address the hospital’s critical manpower shortage.
In addition, NARD urged the hospital management to prioritise the rehabilitation of doctors’ call rooms to improve working conditions and patient care.
The association insisted that no resident doctor should be victimised, intimidated or sanctioned for participating in lawful union activities.
It warned that any attempt to intimidate or unlawfully punish its members would compel the association to deploy every lawful mechanism available to defend their rights and welfare.
Warning of escalation
While reiterating its commitment to dialogue, NARD said discussions must now be accompanied by sincerity and concrete implementation of agreements.
“The time for promises has passed; what is now required is decisive action,” the association said.
It warned that continued neglect of the doctors’ welfare concerns would heighten industrial tension and further compromise healthcare delivery in Oyo State.
The association added that if the dispute remains unresolved after the expiration of the warning strike, it would stand firmly with the resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and consider all appropriate actions within its constitutional mandate to protect their welfare, dignity and professional rights.
It said responsibility for any escalation of the industrial dispute would rest squarely with the management of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and the Oyo State government.
READ ALSO: Resident doctors threaten nationwide strike over OAUTHC doctors’ industrial action
NARD reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare of doctors, preserving the integrity of residency training and ensuring quality healthcare delivery for Nigerians.
Broader industrial tensions
The latest warning comes barely a day after NARD threatened a nationwide solidarity strike over the ongoing industrial action at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife (OAUTHC), where resident doctors began an indefinite strike over unresolved welfare and working condition issues.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NARD declared its support for the striking doctors at OAUTHC and warned that it could mobilise resident doctors nationwide if the dispute was not resolved.
The association accused the hospital management of failing to address longstanding concerns affecting its members and urged the federal government to intervene.
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